Multiple-head sealing machine



March 4, 1930.y M. -`JAEGER MULTIPLE HEAD SEALING MACHINE' 7 Sheets-Sheet Filed April 1'7. 1922v March 4, 1930. M. JAEGER MULTIPLE HEAD SEALING MACHINE Filed April 174. 192.2 7 Sheets-'Sheet Max Jager @5% /Mf @Homwa v M; JAEGER yMULTIPLE HEAD vSEALING MACHINE v '7 Sheets-Sheet 3 P-A I F'iledvApril 17, 1922 March 4,` l 930.

veu/bof,

March 4, 1930. M. JAEGER l MULTIPLE HEAD SEALING MACHINE Filed April 1'?. 1922 7 sheets-sheet 4 u uc 11 l'oz Maz Jaeger @5U M t] ll'oz l nel, Q

March 4, 1930. M. JAEGE'R MULTIPLE HEAD SEALING MACHINE Filed April 17. 1922 7 Sheets-Sheet '5 /I aumento@ i f Max Jia? 61@ LJ M0 Hoz 11 c.: y

March 4, 1930. M; JAEGER I u 1,749,347

MULTIPLE HEAD -SEALING MACHINE Filed April 1v.l i922 v 'r'seets-sheet e Maffay/1r March 4, 1930. M. .JAEGER v 15749347 MULTIPLE HEAD SEALING' MACHINE` Filed April 17. 1922 '7 Sheets-Sheet '7 "iii Patented Mar. 4, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MAX JAEGER, OF LONG- ISLAND CITY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO ANCHOR CAP CLO- SURE CORPORATION, 0F LONG ISLAND CITY, NEW YORK,.A CORPORATION OIF NEW YORK MULTIPLE-HEAD SEALING MACHINE Application led April 17,

This invention relates to packaging and more specially to a machine for sealing caps on glass jars or the like.

Heretofore in the art of sealing caps upon 'glass jars and the like it has been `custom ary to perform the sealing operation at a single station. The single station operation made it necessary that the package be conveyed to the station and stopped while the sealing operation .was performed and then the package would be conveyed from the machine.

This procedure is slow because a second sealing operation could not be begun until after the first sealing operation has been finished.' It also necessitated an intermittent feed whereby the packages could be stopped and started. The time to make the seal was necessarily arranged to be as short as possible and therefore the parts were subjected to sudden and heavy pressures which frequently broke the containers.

The present invention overcomes the. diiliculty of the known art by providing an improved machine for forming-seals on glass jars or the like wherein the sealing operation is performed while the package is traveling. In view of the fact that a number of sealing members are arranged to be successively operated it follows that a plurality of sealing operations may be occurring in dierent stages at the same time and without interrupting the progress of packages passing through the machine since the sealing operation occurs while the package is moving. Under these conditions a continuous train of packages may be conveyed through the machine without any stop or start motion so that the diiiculties with slopping or spilling the contents of well lled containers is overcome. The continuous operation adapts itself for use with automatic cap applying dcvices which apply caps as the packages pass the cap applying station so that the whole apparatus is automatic and continuous in its operation after packagesleave the filling machine.

One embodiment of the invention may be generally described as comprising a base frame carrying a continuously moving conveyor,v adapted to transfer packages to a trans- 1922. serial No. 553,899.

fer mechanism which places the packages on a rotating platform provided with tables adapted to be raised and ldwered. A plurality of sealing heads are lmounted directly over the platform, one over each table and are constructed to rotate in unity with the platform so that when packagesl are placed upon the tables and the Vtables are raised the sealing heads become eective to seal the packages during one revolution of the platform and the multiple sealing head frame. A suitable take-olf mechanism is provided adjacent that portion of the platform where the sealing operation is completed so that the sealed packages are re-transferred to the conveyor mechanism whereby packages may be delivered from the machine for final packing and shipping. A suitable cap 4 applying mechanism is arranged adjacent the conveyor and automatically 'applies the caps as the packages are fed in the machine. To facilitate a combination for various heights lof* packages the sealing head is adapted to be raised and lowered in its entirety so-as to be eective at predetermined heights within control of the operator.

Having generally described the invention the principal object thereof. is a package sealing machine for sealing caps on glass jars or the like wherein the sealing operation occurs during the continuous movement of the package through the machine.

Another object of the present invention is a machine of the character specified and wherein the sealing operation is performed by a plurality of spinning heads adapted to clamp packages upon a suitable package table whereby the packages are prevented from rotating during the spinning operation while the packages are being carried around a circular path.

' Another object of the invention is a machine of the class described wherein the sealing mechanism is mounted upon an arched frame between a pair of vertical pillars which" are provided with simultaneously operative raising devices to permit 'the sealing mechanism to be raised and lowered as desired.

Another object of the present invention operation.

Other and further objects of the present invention will in part be obvious and will in part -be pointed out hereinafter in the specification 'following wherein like parts are designated by like characters throughout the several figures thereof.

Realizing` thaty the present invention may be embodied in constructions other than those specifically shown and described it is. desired that the description herewith shall be considered as illustrative and not inthe limiting sense.

vFigure 1 is an elevational view showing parts of the machine in section;

Figure 2 is also an elevational view taken on sectionline 2-2 of Figure 1,;

Figure 3 is a detail plan view of the driving gears taken on section line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the machine taken on section line 4--4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a plan view taken on section line 5 5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a-plan view through the spinning heads taken on section line 6--6 of, Figure 1;

Figure 7 is an enlarged vertical sectional view'of one spinning head and connected parts;

Figure 8 is a plan view taken line 8-8 of Figure 7; Figure 9 is also a plan view taken on section line 9-9 of Figure 7 and shows the spiniing rolls before the spinning operation has igure 10 is a view similar to Figure 9 and shows the position of the spinning rolls when the spinning operation has been completed;

on section Main dw'me Referring now to the drawings and more specially to Figures l, 2, and 3 thereof, the base frame 1 carries a motor frame 2 upon which is mounted a motor 3 that carries a drive gear 4 to which is connected a gear 5 that carries a positive clutch member 6 and is mounted to rotate upon a main shaft 7. A movable corresponding clutch member 8 is keyed to the main drive shaft 7 which shaft is mounted in the motor frame 2 and is provided on one end with a hand wheel 9 and on the other end with a gear wheel10. The movable member 8 of the clutch is in engagement with the lever arm 11 on a shaft 12, which carries a bevel gear 14 which meshes with the control shaft bevel gear 15 on the control shaft 16 which is provided with operating handle 17, so that the operation of the handle will throw the movable clutch member into and out of engagement with the clutch device attached to the driving gear 5. The gear wheel` 10 (Fig. 3') drives a stud shaft which Vcarries a worm 13 and engages the main drive worm wheel 20. This main drive worm wheel is enclosed in casin 21. and is mounted on the lower end of a tu ular main shaft 22.

Table platform, Referring now more specially to-Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, the tubular main shaft 22 carries a table platform 101 which is provided with pockets in which are mounted vertically movable tables 102 thatare in the form of pistons that lit in the pockets. These tables each carry a telescoping rod 104 which is 'normally maintained in extended position by coil spring 105. The lower end of this rod 104 is adj ustably connected with the cam roll 106 which is adapted to follow the cam groove 107 in the stationary cam 108 which is fixedly secured on the bearing plate 109 that carries the bearing 110 for the tubular main shaft 22. The table platform 101 carries a depending sleeve 111 on which is mounted a large annular gear 112 which drives the package conveyor-mechanism, as will later be explained. A platform cover casing 114 is mounted upon the base frame 1 and encloses the table platform mechanism. In the embodiment shown in the drawings there are six of the vertically moving table-members and cooperative mechanism for the o erating of the same, however, theremay e any convenient number of such units.

Spinning head frame The spinning vhead frame is illustrated more specially in Figures 1, 2, and 7 and comprises a sliding main shaft 201 which is keyed to the tubular main shaft 22 in order to be driven thereby and is adapted for vertical movement therein, as will later be explained.-

The spinning head frame 202 (Figs. 9 and 10) is secured to the upper end of the sliding main shaft 201 so that the spinning head frame rotates consonantly with the table platform 101. The spinning head frame carries a plurality of cover frames 204 which enclose 'the spinning mechanism and which connect `which is supported in an arch frame 207 by means of a collar 208 which rests on a ball hearing 209. The upper tubular main shaft carries a driving gear 210 which meshes with a countershaft pinion 211 mounted on a countershaft 212 which rotates inbearings in the stationary arch frame 207. This countershaft carries on its upper end a driving gear 214 which engages a pinion 215 on a central shaft 216 that is mounted to rotate within the upper tubular main shaft 206. This central shaft 216 carries a driving gear 217 that engages spinnng head gears 218 of each spinning head. vEach spinning head gear 218 is secured to a tubular spinning head shaft 219 which carries a iange 220 on which the arms for the spinning rollers are mounted. These arms (see Figs. 7, 9, and 10) are formed in twofpieces, 221 and 222, with the arms 221 rcarrying spinning rollers 224 and the arms 222 carrying cam rollers 225 which engage a control cam 226 mounted'on a hollowcontrol rod 227 which is adj ustably connected with a roller 228 that is adapted to follow a lower groove 229 in a stationary cam 230. This cam 230 is fixedly secured to the arch frame 207 and consequently is held against rotation A while the spinning head frame rotates around and beneath the cam. A roller bearing 231 for the upper main shaft 206 is mounted in the cam 230. The cam 230 is also provided ywith an upper groove 232 in which rollers 234 travel, and each roller 234 is adjustably connected to a pressure rod 235 which extends through the tube 227 and carries on the lower end thereof a head 236 (Fig.

1) that is adapted to rest on a cap and to place suicient pressure on said cap to slightly displace a corresponding` coil spring 104 in the corresponding package table and thus clamp a capped package on the table. The-tubular member 227 carries an anvil 237 (Fig. 1) which is adapted to rest on the bead of the cap during the spinning operation. The stationary cam 230 therefore performs the func-v tion of causing each tubular member 227 and also each pressure member 235, to have a vertical movement while the spinning head is rotating around the aXis of the main shafts. This vertical movement of the tubular member 235 causes the control cam 226 to swing the roller arms in such manner as to compress the coil springs 238 (Figs. 9 and 10) which are supported on the posts 239, and to bring the spinning rollers 224 inwardly in a gradual movement to spin the bead of the cap against the side wall of a suitable glass container. Prior to the beginning of the spinning operation the head 236 is brought into engagement with the cap and the package is tightly clamped between the head and the table, as stated in order to hold the cap in place and. to prevent rotation of the package during the spinning operation. After the spinning operation is completed the package table 102 is lowered and the head 236 is raised so that the package is free to be removed from the table. As the package is raised into the zone of the spinning head it is guided by the removable funnel 240 (Figs. 1 and 7) so that it is properly positioned relatively to the anvil 237. The funnels 240 and also the spinning heads may be changed by merely removing the cover frames 204 so that vthe size of thflcap accommodated may be determined at w1 The metal work inclosing each spinning head is split as indicated by line 294 in Fig. 2; and thus by removing cap screws 290, 291, 292 and 293leach spinning head may be removed as a unit including the spinning rolls, the spinning anvil, cam rollers 228 and 234 and gear 218.

Arch frame The arch frame illustrated more specially in Figures 1 and 7 comprises the arch frame member 207 which is provided on each side with a guide member 301 which slides on the guide faces on the twin vertical posts 302 that are carried by the base frame 1. The guide members 301 are provided -with shoes 304 which may be operated to clamp the guide members 301 against thel twin verticalposts when desired. These guide members 301 are also provided with threaded sleeves 305 which are mounted on vertical shafts 306, one' of which is arranged in each of the twin posts. These vertical shafts are supported vertically by collars 307 (Fig. 1) and are connected with worm wheels 309 that are driven by- Worms 310 mounted lon the operating l Package supply mechanism The package supply mechanism will be described in general terms in connection with the combination of other features of the machine in view of the fact that the package Imechanism is claimed specically in my co-l pending application, Serial No. 375,240, filed Apr. 20, 1920.

Referring to Figures 1, 2, 4, and 5 the large annular gear 112 engages the driven gear 401 (Figure 4), whic'h is mounted on the vertical shaft 402 that carries on its upper end a bevel gear 404 in mesh with a corresponding bevel gear' 405 on a horizontal stub shaft 406. This stub shaft 406 is provided with a pinion 407 that engages` a corresponding pinion 408 on the drive shaft 409 that carries on its outer end a bevel gear 410 which drives the conveyor shaft 411 at the outer end of the conveyor frame 412 which is carried by the main base frame 1. This conveyor shaft carries a pair of sprocket wheels 414 upon which is mounted the sprocket chains 415 that carry the conveyor plates 416. These sprocket chains 415 extend lengthwise of the machine around a companion pair of idler sprocket wheels 417 adjustably mounted on theend of the conveyor frame 418 which is also carried by the main base frame 1. From the connected parts it will be clear that when the annular gear 112 is rotated counter-clock- Wise the sprocket wheel 414 will be turned in the direction of the arrows shown in Figure 1.

The annular gear 112 also meshes with a driven gear 419 (Figure 4). This driven gear is connected with the vertical shaft I420 that carries on its upper end a`bevel gear 421 which meshes with a corresponding bevel gear 422 on .a short horizontal shaft 424 and this shaft drives the cap feeding mechanism which is generally indicated at 425 in Figure 1. The vertical shafts 402 and 420 carry on their upper ends, package spacers 426 and 427 respectively. These memberscooperate With the package guides 428 as transfer members to take packages from the conveyor and position the same upon the package tables.

and also remove sealed vpackages from the table and reposition the same on the conveyor to be removed from the machine.

From the foregoing specific description it will appear that the present machine is adapted to rapidly and economically form seals on caps of glass containers while the packages are in continuous movement.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is: f

1. In a machine of the class described, a frame, a platform rotatably mounted in the frame, tables on the platform, a spinning head comprising spinning mechanism over each table, means to rotate the platform, and

1 means driven by the platform to rotate the spinning mechanism and to maintain each spinning head directly over a predetermined table,`said means comprising a sliding connection whereby the distance between said platform and the spinning mechanism may be increased or diminished.

v 2. In a machine ofthe class described, a frame, a platform rotatably `mounted in the frame, tables on theplatform, a spinning head comprising spinning mechanism over each table, means to rotate the platform,

means driven by the platform to rotate the spinning mechanism at a substantially greater speed than that of the container 4and to maintain each spinning head'directly over a predetermined table, said means comprising a sliding connection whereby the distance between said platform and the spinning f mechanism may be increased or diminished,

and devices to increase or diminish said distance.`

3. In a machine ofthe class described, a

frame, `a platform rotatably mounted in the frame, tables on the platform, a spinning 4. In a machine of the class described in' combination a table platform, a plurality of tables mounted upon the platform, a stationary cam for raising said tables, a spinning head .frame mounted over said platform, spinning heads carried by said frame, a stationary spinning head cam adapted to control the operation of the spinning heads, means to drive said platform and said frame at the same speed, and gearing driven by said frame to operate the spinning heads.

5. In a machine of the class described in combination a rotating table platform a plurality of vertically movable tables mounted upon the platform, a stationary cam beneath said plat-form for raising and lowering said tables, a rotatable spinning head frame mounted over said platform, spinning heads carried by said frame, a stationary spinning head cam adapted to control the operation of the spinning heads, means to drive said platform and said frame at the same speed, and gearing driven by said frame to operate the spinning heads.

6. In a machine of theclass described in combination a rotating table platform, a plurality of vertically movable tables mounted upon the platform, a stationary cam beneath said platform for raising and loweringl said tables, a rotatable spinning head frame mounted over said platform, spinning heads,

carried by said frame, an arch for carrying said frame, a stationary spinning` head cam adapted to control the operation of the spinning heads, means to raise and lower said arch, means to drive said platform and said frame at the same speed, and gearing driven by said frame to operate the spinning heads.

7. In a machine of the class described the combination of a rotating package support, a spinning head frame above said support, a plurality of spinning heads carried by said frame, means to rotate said frame, andl driving means forsaid spinning heads comprising a shaft attached to and driven by the spinning head frame.

8. In a machine of the class described the combination of a rotating package support, a sealing head frame above said support, a

ioo

tween the sealing heads and the support while the machine is in operation.

10. In a machine of the class described the combination of a rotating package support, a spinning head frame above said support, a plurality of spinning heads carried by sai frame, means comprising a shaft attached to the support to rotate said frame, and driving means for said spinning heads comprising ai shaft attached to and driven by the frame. 11. In a machine of the class described, a

vertidal main platform shaft, a platform` connected to said shaft, a spinning head frame, spinning heads upon said frame, sliding driving connections between the main platform shaft and the spinning head frame whereby the platform and the spinning head both revolve at the same speed, and gearing driven by the said frame to rotate the spinning heads.

12. In a machine of the class described, a vertical main platform shaft, a platform connected to lsaid shaft, a spinning head frame, spinning heads upon said frame, sliding driving connections-between the main platform shaft andthe spinning head frame whereby the platform and the spinning head both revolve at the same speed, and gearing driven by the said frame to rotate the spinning heads, and means to raise and lower said spinning head frame while the machine is in operation.

13. In a machine of the class described, a base frame, a pair of screws extending vertically from said base frame, sealing mechanism comprising a plurality of sealing heads rotatable about a common axis supported mediately by said screws, a countershaft in said base frame and geared to said screws to rotate them simultaneously to elevate. said sealing mechanism, driving means in said base frame, and means to actuate said sealing mechanism, said actuating means comprising a telescopic connection to said driving means whereby said sealing mechanism may be elevated without disturbing the operative connection thereto.

14. In a machine of the class described, a base frame, a rotating platform carried by the base frame, a spinning frame rotatabl mounted above the platform, spinning hea s carried by said spinning frame, means driven driving v .raising and by the platform to effect rotation ofthe spinning' frame and a simultaneous and continuous rotation'of the spinning heads and a slidableconnection between said means and said platform to permit vertical movement between 'said frame and said platform.

15. In a machine of the class described, a rotating spinning frame, a plurality of spinning heads carried by said spinning frame, and means to rotate the Spinnin heads, said means comprising a shaft mova le in a vertical direction and arranged to rotate synchronously with the spinning frame.

16. In'a machine of the class described, a plurality of hollow lvertical pillars, vertical guide ways in the inner sides of said pillars,

a frame supportingN spinning mechanism, n

said frame cooperating with said guide ways,

d threaded sleeves associated with said frame and mounted on theshafts within said pillars, threaded vertical shafts in said pillars cooperating with said sleeves to provide means for lowering said sealing mechanism and means to clamp said frame to said pillars to maintain it in a desired vertical position.

17. In a machine of the class described, a base frame, a plurality of hollow' pillars extending vertically from said base frame, guide ways on said pillars, a frame carrying spinning mechanism, said spinning mecha-` nism'frame cooperating with said guide ways, threaded sleeves associated with said spinning mechanism frame, threaded vertical shafts mounted within said hollow pillars, said shafts cooperating sleeves, bearings for each shafts, and means to rotate said vertical shafts to raise and lower the spinning mechamsm.

18. In a machine of the class described, a base frame, a rotating platform carried by the base frame, a plurality of tables stationary with respect to said platform, but movable in a vertical direction, a spinning frame rotatably mounted above the platform, spinning heads suspended by said spinning frame .and means drlven by the platform to effect rotation of the "spinning frame and continuous rotation of the suspended Spinnin heads.

19. In a machine of the class desc'ri ed, the' combinationof a platform, a plurality of tables on said platform adapted to support containers and to resist rotation thereof, a rotatings inning frame, a plurality of spinning hea s carried by said spinning frame, and means spin a metal cap on a receptacle, said means comprising a shaft movable in a vertical direction and arranged to rotate synchronously with the spinning frame.

MAX JAEGER.V

withsaid threaded end of said vertical los to rotate the spinningheads to 

